AN iconic steam engine built in the region is set to be replicated in its new livery colours by a model train company.

Model railway manufacturer, Hornby, are producing a special edition scale model of the Peppercorn class A1 Tornado in her new British Railways express passenger blue livery, which will go on sale later this year priced £122.99.

Tornado was built from scratch by volunteers from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington and is the first main line steam engine to be built in Britain for nearly 50 years.

The project cost £3m and took nearly 20 years to complete, and sales of the model will go towards repaying the outstanding £500,000 borrowed to complete her construction.

Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said: “We are delighted that Hornby has continued to support the Trust with the production of a model of Tornado in her latest incarnation of BR express passenger blue.

“For each train they sell, a bit of money comes back to us to help pay off the debts which helps keep the train on the main line for future generations.

“The full size Tornado is still extremely popular and our trains are always full.”

Hornby have produced a number of models of Tornado in the past, but this is the first time she will be replicated in her new blue colours.

Simon Kohler of Hornby Railways said: “We are pleased to present Tornado in her latest BR express passenger blue livery so that this ever more popular locomotive can be modelled as she currently appears on the main line and heritage railways up and down the country.”

Since it was built in 2009, the engine has been the subject of a BBC documentary and featured on BBC's Top Gear in a race from London to Edinburgh with a classic sports car and motorcycle.

The company is also set to release model of the Cock O’ the North Gresley Class P2 engine later this year, which is the second locomotive the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust hope to build following the completion of a feasibility study.

Models of both engines will be available from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s website at a1steam.com, with all profits going towards the trust.